With the election date just around the corner, candidates are trying to get their voices hear. From the mayoral candidates, to the city council candidates. Brookdale Senior Living Center assisted with letting residents of Grand Terrace hear their candidates and their issues.
On October 11th, residents and candidates filled the recreational room for a candidate forum. The MC for the night was Ted Holt as he led with the questions and introductions of each candidate.
Questions were submitted by residents of Grand Terrace and provided the discussions throughout the night.
The questions began with the mayoral candidates, Darcy McNaboe (incumbent) and Sylvia Robles (mayor pro tem). The first question of the night was, “In following the city’s current mission in moving towards its long term vision goals, where do you see us needed to be and how do you propose to help us get there so Grand Terrace residents can have a safe and health place to live and raise a family?”
Mayor McNaboe stated that Grand Terrace “needs to focus on economic development.” She also said, “our main goal has to be economic development, so that we can support all of the services that we can provide as a city, and that our residents deserve to have.”
In another question for the mayoral candidates they were asked, “As Mayor of Grand Terrace, can you tell us what you believe your roll is, please expand what you believe are your duties?”
In response to this question, Mayor Pro Tem Robles answered “we are the voice of the people, you elect us, not a city manager to run things.” In addition to her response she says that, “if we’re not careful that we’re going to be rubber stamping an administrator's agenda rather than our own.”
After wrapping the mayoral candidate questions, the city council candidate forum began with Doug Wilson sitting at a single table since his opponent Greg Batla was not in attendance. In the table next to him sat the three candidates for City Council 4 year term, Jeff Allen, Ken Henderson, and Jeffrey McConnell.
As the questions went on, each city council candidate spent their 3 minutes to respond and answer in detail their support or non support with certain issues. The leading question was “if you are elected can you tell us your top priorities and how do you plan to accomplish them?”
Wilson responded first with “clean up our main street, the gateway project, and financial feasibility.” While Allen responded to the question with his top priorities being, “I will always stand up against unfair taxes against our residents…. And I’m a strong supporter of public safety.”
Later on in the questions the candidates were asked to give one positive quality about their opponents. Ken Henderson gave praise to both Allen and McConnell by visiting the past and sharing his individual experiences with each opponent. Admiring Allen’s commitment to the C.E.R.T. program and how he and McConnell don’t always agree but recognizes the value in his opinion and commentary.
Jeffrey McConnell responded to this question by letting Allen know that he appreciates his desire to not impose new taxes. As well as letting Henderson know how he appreciates Henderson coming out of retirement to take on the roll of city manager.
The forum wrapped up with each candidate reiterating their priorities and what they want to accomplish if elected.
This forum allowed for Grand Terrace residents to meet their candidates and get the information they needed. With most candidates in attendance, they were able to give them just that.